Toilet-paper holder



Emme 17, 1924.

M. LA'LONDE ET AL TOILET PAPER HOLDER Filed dan. 1'7. 1923 Patented .lune 17, i924. n

marten STATES y l i,498,z42 miriam OFFICE.

MOSES LALONDE AND CHN A. SMEATON, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. f

TOILETPAPEn HOLDER.

Application nledyJanua-ry 17, 1923. Serial No.l 313,183. l

To all w hom t 'may concern Be it known that we, Moses LALONDE, a subject of the King of England, and JOHN A. SMEATON, a citizen of the United States of America, and both residents of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful ',loilet-Paper Holder, of wliichthe following'is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in devices or appliances for holding toilet paper, and more especially to holders of this character Which are capable of dispensing the paper as well as holdingl the saine, and consists essentially of a'supporting'body provided with a bail, ar paper feeder carried by said bail, and means attachable to said body and adapted .to support the diroot supporting or suspension means forA the toilet paper, 'either livhen theglatter, is in roll formation or flatpackage formation, together with such other parts and members as may be necessary or desirable in order to render the holder complete and servicef able in every respect, allas hereinafter set forth. i' n The priniary object of our invention is to produce a comparatively simple and inexpensive appliance forboth kholding and dispensing toilet paper ofleither type, that is to say, toilet paper in the roll or flat toilet paper in the package.

A further object is to provide a holderof this character with convenient means for feeding paper from a roll, Or for feeding paper one sheet at a time from a package. The feeding operation preferably involves merely the starting of the leading end orl sheet of paper downwardly into a where it can be readily grasped an torn Oii or drawn holder.

position either 4The body ofthe holder is providedr ivith a blade against Which thepaper can beY conveniently tornoft' from the'strip above when fed down from'a roll. Such'v blade is not needed when the holder is used for fiat paper, and may then be. removed if desired. Other objects' andadvantages Will appear in the course of the following` description.

We attain the objects and secure the advantages of our invention bythe means illus-v trated in the accompanyingdrawings, in Which f Figure l is a front elevation "of a toiletclear of the package and paper holder which embodies a practical form Vof our invention, such holder being supplied with a roll of toilet paper; Fig. 2, a` central, transverse, vertical section through said holder and roll; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail of one ofthe connections be? tween the bail and the feed-block guide; Fig. 4', van enlarged, side elevation of the roller Which We prefer to use in connection with our holder when toilet paper in rolls is to be carried and dispensed thereby; Fig. 5, a sectional detail of the upper part of the holder illustrating the supporting means for a package of fiat toilet paper, and, Fig. 6, a front end elevation of the rod which forms a partof suchfsupporting means. f y Y n Similar referenced characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the preferred embodiment of our holder, as illustrated in connection herewith,l the same comprises a'sheetfmetal body consisting of a plate ly in front, and karearivardly-ezttending flange 2 which forms topz bottom, and side pieces Vto' restr against a wall, and `With said plate to enclose certain U parts presently to be described. A vertical slot 3 is formed in the plate l near thel top, and the portion of said plate which is lstrook ont to form said slot extends rearwardly from the bottom edge of said slot, andy has` i and forwardly in the shape of a hook tok engage the rear reach of the bail G. In each side piece of the flangeQ is a recess or indentation, asr clearly Vshown at .8 in' Fig. 5.` The axes of the vindentations 8` ,andy the, hooked. portions Vof the lugs are jin a straight horizontal line, andthe aforesaid rear reach of the bail 6 isreceived insaid indentations and hooks. The indented portions of thetiiange 2 afford the'necessary bearing for the bail 6, and thek hooked lugs 7 prevent said bail from becoming accidentally disconnected fromy such bearings.

The bail consists of the reach of which mention has beenmade, a pair of side arms, and inwardly-extending parts from the for- ,Ward terminals of such arms, said parts being in line with each other and parallel with said reach. Each free end of the bail 6 is shouldered, asbest shown at 9 in Fig. 3. The bail may be freely swung up and down with the rear-reach rocking in the indentations '.3 andthe Vhooked portions of the lug 7.

A feeder guide is represented at 10, and the same consists of a plate and two rearwardly-extending side pieces. Each df the side pieces of the guide 10, intermediate Vof its ends is struck outwardly, as shown at 11 in Figs. 1 and 3, and perforated to receive one of the free terminals of the bail 6. Each shoulder 9 on the bail 6 and the contiguous outwardly-projecting bearing part 11 prevent the corresponding` free terminal of said bail from entering said bearing part far enough to interfere with Vthe movement of a feeder which Ais designed to be moved up and down in the guide 10 between the sides thereof. The guide 10 may be moved with the V'bail '.6 and also rocked independently thereon. There is a vertical slot 13 in the center of the guide 10. rEhe feeder comprises a block 12, and abrading material, such `as a piece of sandpaper 14, on the back side AOffsaid block. A knob 15 has a shank 16 that extends through the slot 13 and is tapped onto the block 12. The shank 16 can be moved'up and -down inthe slot 13 rby means of the vknob 15., and when so moved said sha-nk carries with it the block 12. The combined thickness ofthe block 12 and the sandpaper Y14, which constitute the feeder,

is less than the width of the sides of the Guide 10, consequently said feeder can be drawn awayV from the plate 1 or paper thereon, by means of the 'knob 15, without disturbing said guide.

In Ffgs. 1 and r2, a verticalsupport in the forni of a 'rod 17 is provided. The rod 17 has `on Vthe front side at the .top a hook 18. There isa .hole 19 in the top piece of the flange .2, which hole is directly above the cupped portion of .the .lug 4, and `the rod 17 is passed downwardly through said lhole onto said lug. being thereby supported in a vertical position. A second bail 20, has its rear` or upper reach provided with an 'intermediate .eye 21 that is receivable on the hook 13. The free terminals of the .bail 2O are receivable in opposite ends of a roller 22. On the roller 22 is mounted a roll 23 of toilet paper. The rod 17 and bail .2() support the roller 22 and the roll 23 in position for'said roll Vto bear against thepface Vof the plate 1 Aa short distance below the upperedgethereof. The roll23 is arranged on the .roller .22 in such a manner as to enable the paper from said roll tobedrawn off from the back side of .the roll. The strip of Ipaper from the Yback side of the roll A.23 passes downwardly against the face of the plate 1, as represented at 24. Upper and under guide bars 25 and 26, respectively, may be attached to the supporting body in such a `manner as to .enable the :strip 24 to pass between the plate 1 and said bars. Ordinarily the guide bar 25 can be dispensed with, but the guide .bar 26 also yserves as a blade for the paper, and is necessary when the V'holder is used with roll toilet paper. The guide `or blade 26 is not needed for flat toilet-paper and may be omitted altogether or removed from the body of aholder which is to be used exclusively for flat toilet paper. In vthe present case the terminals of the bars 25 and 26 -are bent rearwardly and attached to the side pieces of `the flange 2. There must, of course, be .sufficient clearance back of the bars 25 and 26 for lthe paper.

YInasmuch as different toilet-paper rolls differ. to a greater `o r less extent, we prefer to provide `the roller 22 with three bow springs i 2,7. ,The springs 2,7 extend longitudinally of the roller -22,7they are `arranged equidistant apart, Aand one terminalof each is secured to lsaid roller. YThus the roller 22 is adapted to fit the passage through any paper roll, an-d frictionally engage such roll so that the Velements rotate together.

In practice, the roller 22 is thrust through Y the toilet-paper roll 23, the free terminals of the bail .20 are sprung apart to enable the inwardly-.directed parts of such terminals Vto enter into engagement with the ends of said roller, and the paper is drawn downwardly Vfrom said roll and passed through the bars 25 and 26, the knob 15 being grasped and the feeding members swung upwardly with the bail 6 to enable the paper to be passed downwardly against the "face of the plate 1, or to facilitate such operation. After the paper strip 24 is in readiness for feeding, the feeding .members .are permitted to swing back again with the guide 10 resting against said strip. The strip 22 ris Y-now left with a portion ofthe samev projecting below the bar -or :blade 26. This projecting portion is grasped with .the hand and drawn downV war-diy until .the vrequired .length below said bar is obtained, when the 4same/is torn off against .the'bottom edge of said bar. After this, in order .to obtain the next sheet or pieceof paper, grasp theknob 15 and move the block 12 forwardly a sufficient distance to enable the sandpaper 14 teclear .thestrip 24, carry ,said block upwardly, -move said block rearwardly to press said sandpaper against said strip, and carry said block downwardly. This last action causes the strip 24 to vbe carried downwardly `with the sandpaper 14, Yand .the extent of the movement issuiiicient, 1provided the same be-commensurate with :the length l.of :the slot 13, :to cause a portion of said strip to project Ibelow the bar 26. Thisprojecting portion ofthe paper is long enough to enable it to be grasped between the thumb and linger.

Cei

When the aforesaid projecting portion of the paper is grasped, the Astrip is drawn downwardly Auntil ,the required length appears below the blade 26, and then the same is torn off against said blade. These oper-v ations are repeated until the roll`23 is eX- liausted, when the roller 22 is suppliedwith a new paper roll.

The bail and roller` 22 4are not, of course, required for dat toilet paper, hence they ai'e laid aside or not provided! at all when the holder is to bc used for such paper. The ver tical rod 17 must also be discarded lfor an angulai and generally horizontal support or r rod 28-sce FiO's. 5 and 6." The rod 28 has a downwardly-extending rearfpart which is receivable in the hole 19 and on the lug 4, and a downwardly-extending. front part which forms a hook 29." Then the rod 28 is in place, the bottom of tbespace between the parts which. yform the ,hook 29 is approximately on a Vlevel ,with Vthe top of the lug 4.

In Fig. 5, the upper portion of a package of flat toilet paper isrepresented at 30and a binderwire for such package at 31. The wire 31 has an eye 82 at one end as usual. The package 30 is connected with and supported by our holder by introducing the wire eye 32 through the slot 3 in the plate l onto the lug 4, passing` the vertical, rear part of the rod 28 downwardly through said eye onto said lug, and placing the forward-terminal portion of said wire in the hook 29, the wire preferably being'bent over infront of said hook. Thus the package 30 is securely held in placev in readiness for the action thereon of the feeder.-

The bail 6 enables theg'uide 10 to be placed against the front sheet of the package 30, and always to gravitate against said package, just as it gravitates against the strip 24 in the other case. The block 12 is manipulated by means of thefknobk 15, to detach one sheet after another from the package 30,in the same manner that it is operated for the pur pose of moving the strip 24'downwardly. The block 12 should be elevated sutiiciently and moved downwardly the required distance to enable the sandpaper 14, not only to engage and loosen the foremost sheet of paper on the wire 31, but to-tear away and detach such sheet entirely from said wire, although the sheet could without difficulty be tornloose even if it were only partially detached by the feeder. Each sheet, as it is fed downwardly by the block and sandpaper, is left with its lower portion projecting below the bottom of the package 30 and even below the bottom of the holder, consequently in position to be readily grasped between the thumb and finger and withdrawn completely from between the other sheets or package and said sandpaper.

After the package 30 is exhausted, the rod 2S is raised to release the binder wire 3l, the.,4

stricted to toilet paper.

latter is removed, and the binder wire of a fresh package is mounted in place in the holder.

The roller 22 may have recesses in the ends to receive the free ends of the bail 20, and said roller is shown broken away to show one such recess at 33 in Fig. 4.

The use of this holder is not necessarily re- More or less change of shape, size, construction, and arrangement of some or all of the parts of this holder, in addition to those hereinbefore specifically pointed out, may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

lVliat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a holder 'of the class described, with a body provided with a movable bail, a guide movably mounted on said bail, and a feeder slidiiigly arranged in said guide, of means to support paper in operative position relative to said feeder.

2. rlhe combination,- ina holder of the class described, with a body provided with a movable bail, a slotted guide pivotally connected with said bail, and an abraded feeding block in said guide, said block being provided with an operating member therefor which extends through the slot in said guide,

of means to support paper in operative position relative to said guide and block.

3. The combination', in a holder of thev class described, with a sheet-metal body "3 comprising a front plate and indented side y,

lugs, and paper-feeding means carried by said bail, of means to support paper in operative position relative to said feeding means.

4. The combination, in a holder of the class described, with a body kprovided with means to support a rod in an approximately vertical position, and a rod capable of being upheld by said means and projecting above said body, of a bail pivotally connected with said body, and .paper-feeding means carried by said bail, said rod ybeing adapted to support paper in feeding position in relation to said paper-feeding means.

5. The combination, in ya holderfof the class described, with a sheet-metal body comprising a front plate and a perforated top piece, a portion of said plate being struck out to leave an opening and forma lug, and

the perforationin said top piece being above.`

said lug, and a rod receivable in said per 'foration and by said lug, and adapted to class described, with a sheet-metal body coms ila ist

prising a front plate and a perforated top piece','portions of said plate .being struck ont to form lugs, and the perforation insaid top piece being above one o f said lugs, and a rod receivable in said `perforation and by the lug below the same, and adapted to support paper in feeding position of a bail pivotally connected with said body and .held in such connection by theothers of said lugs, and paper-feeding means carried by said bail. Y

7. The combination, in a. holder of the classdescribed, with a sheet-metal bodycomprisinga front plate and top and side pieces, portions of said plate vbeing struck ont to form lugs, said top piece having an opening therein above one of said lugs, and said side pieces being recessed, of a rod receivable in vsaid opening and by the lug below the same, and-adapted tosnpport paper in feeding position a bail receivable in said recesses andadapted to be held therein by theothers of said lugs, and paper-feeding means carried by said bail.

8. The combination, in a holder Aof the class described, with a body, a bail .pivotally connected therewith, a ,slotted guard pivotvallymonnted on said bai-l, and having side pieces to support the same againstsaid body or interposed paper,and an abraded feeder block provided `With a projecting member which extends through the slot in said guard, said :block being of less thickness than the vbreadth of' said side pieces, of means to support paper in operative position relative .to said guide and block.

9. The combination, in a holder of the class described, With a body having vrod-supporting means, and provided Witha movable bai-l, 'and feeding means carried by said bail, of ra ,rod adapted to be `supported by said first-named means,.a second bail carried by said rod, and a yroller rfor paper carried by said second bail.

10. rThe combination, .in a holder of the class described, with a body having rod-supporting means, and provided With a movable bail, paper-feeding `means carried by :said bail, and `paper-.guide members connected With said body above and below-said feeding means when in operative position relative to paper interposed between said body and said feeding means, one of said members serving as a 4blade against which to tear the paper, of rod .carried ,by saidirst-named means, a. second bailcarried by saidwrordVand a roll for :paper carried by ,said second bail.

11. The combination, in a holder of .the class described, with a. body .comprising a front plate and a top piece, said plate .havinga part cnt out Ato .form a lng, and said flange having an opening therein above said lng, a gbail pivotally connected with said body, yand paper-feeding members pivotally connected yWith said ibail, of `a rod receivable in said opening and on said lng, said rod having bail-engaging means, a second bail adapted .to be .connected with said means, and a roller carried by Said second bail.

12. The combination, in a. holderk yof the class described, With a body consisting in part of a ,front vplate anda perforated top piece,.said platebeing cnt ont :to leave a slot and yform a lng, Vand the yperforation in said top piece being above said lug, a bail movably connected ,with said body, and paperfeeding means carried .by said bail, of a hook-provided rod having one terminal receivable in said perforation and `onlsaid lng such rod being maintained in an approximately vertical position by the perforated part of said top lpiece, and adapted to snpport paper in operative position vrelative 'to said .paper-feeding means.

18,.l The combination, in a bolder .of .the

class described, with a ,body .consisting in.

part of 4a ,front plate and a perforated top piece, said .plate being cutout to leave a Vslot and form a lng, and the perforation .in said top piece being above said lng, a bail movably connected With said body, .and paperfeeding ,means carried by said ,bail,..of,a rod having a part to .enter said lperforationand rest .on said lng behind said slot, andhaving a .part .t0 `receive the forward tenminal portion of thebinder .Wire of .a .package of toilet paper, .while the eyezofsaid .Wire lis engaged by said first-.named part `,of said rod,'raftel' said eye is .passed .through salid slot.

. MOSES LALONDE.

JOHN A. SMEATON.

lVitne-sses:

F. A. CUTTER, C. C. WEST. 

